Friedrich Nietzsche
Germany, nineteenth century
Genealogy analyses the historical and psychological conditions in which moral valuations emerge.
Historical context
Nietzsche published On the Genealogy of Morality in 1887. His writings combine historical analysis, cultural criticism, and literary experimentation.
Overview
Genealogical inquiry asks how a valuation formed and what functions it came to serve. The question of origins opens another about the value that practice has for those who now sustain it.
Main claims
Moral valuations can be investigated as products of human histories and practices.
Debates and nuances
His criticisms of morality have specific targets and accompany evaluative commitments of his own.
This entry provides educational context.